Paul Jackson
Inducted in 2008

Mercer Island HS 1977-2005
South Mercer JHS 1970-77

Paul Jackson has devoted 36 years to the sport of wrestling as a coach. Paul wrestled at the University of Washington from 1960-64 and served as the co-captain in 1964. He would spend 3 years as an assistant at Skagit Valley JC and the University of Washington before coaching for seven years at South Mercer Junior High School.

During his 24 years at Mercer Island High School, the Islanders won six league championships, had 38 state placers with 4 state champions. 38 of his wrestlers went on to compete in college wrestling. Jackson was selected as the league Coach of the Year four times. He led a Cultural Exchange team to Japan in 1978 and was a Junior National Coach for Washington in 1989 and 1990. Jackson served the WSWCA Board as a Regional Representative for 4 years and a Member-at-Large for 2 years.

Jackson was an official from 1966-1980, and picked up the whistle once again in 2005 after retiring from coaching. He is a member of the Mercer Island High School “Sports Hall of Fame” and was recognized as a King-5 Television “Coach Who Makes a Difference” in 2005. All three of his children graduated from MIHS, then went on to graduate from Stanford.

Nominated by Tom Sewell and Dick Wooding, Hall of Fame members.